Smoker&#39;s set



T. J. MOORE July 14, 1959 SMOKER'S SET Filed May 2, 1958 /4 I INVENTOR.

27027? as (Ii/core SMOKERS SET Thomas J. Moore, Temple, Tex.

Application May 2, 1958, Serial No. 732,552

3 Claims. (Cl. 131-174) This invention relates to a device intended to facilitate the smoking of cigarettes, particularly by invalids. The invention, however, as will presently appear, is not restricted to this particular use.

The dangers of smoking in bed are well known, and many fires, often resulting in loss of life or serious injury, occur when one who is smoking in bed dozes off while the cigarette is still lit and held in the hand.

One important object of the present invention is to provide a smoking set that will enable a person to smoke in bed with comfort and safety. The invention, thus, has particular adaptability for use by invalids, who are almost completely bed-ridden. By reason of the particular construction of the invention, it is proposed to permit one to smoke in comfort and safety, in these circumstances, by reason of the fact that the lit end of the cigarette is protectively housed in such a way that it cannot possibly cause combustion of any adjacent objects or materials, even though left unattended.

Another object is to provide a smoking set as described which can be used not only by invalids or by persons who smoke. in bed, but also, for ordinary smoking in the home and oifice. In carrying out this object, it is proposed to provide a smokers set that will be neat and ornamental, and will eliminate unsightly ash trays, cigarette butts and ashes, and at the same time will protect furniture from burns.

Another object is to provide a smoking set as stated so designed that it will not be necessary to empty the same after each cigarette is smoked. In a typical embodiment, the smokers set is adapted, in fact, to hold the butts of a full pack of cigarettes.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational 'view of a smoking set according to the present invention, with a cigarette inserted therein;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of cover per se; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view substantially on line 6-6 in Fig. 3, showing the manner in which the cigarette-engaging detent is used.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device comprising the present invention includes a cylindrical container or receptacle 10, wholly closed at its bottom 11 and having a constant diameter side wall. Receptacle 10, normally, is covered at its upper, open end by an upwardly conical cover or lid 12, freely perforated at 14 over its entire area, for the purpose of admitting combustion air and exhausting smoke.

Referring to Figure 6, the cover 12 at its upper, smaller end, has a cylindrical, upstanding neck 16 about which is positioned a support bracket 18 formed with cars 20 United States Patent 0 disposed in embracing relation to a rockable lever or detent 22 pivoting upon a pin 24 extending transversely between the ears. The lever, as shown in Figure 6, has associated therewith a torsion spring 26, one end of which bears against the lever at one end of the lever, and the other end of which bears against the adjacent surface of cover 12. The spring is stressed to normally bias the lever to the position thereof shown in Figure 2, in which position it is adapted to clampably engage a cigarette C against the wall of the neck 16.

The end of the lever that engages against the cigarette is arcuately indented as at 27, so as not to compress the cigarette or damage the same in any way. The clamping lever or detent merely bears lightly but firmly against the cigarette, to hold the same in its inserted position shown in Figure 2. p

The cover is removable, but is normally connected to the side wall of receptacle 10 through the provision of trian'gularly spaced (see Figure 5) leaf spring latch members 30. These have upper ends anchored to the inner surface of cover 12 and free lower ends removably engageable in an inwardly facing, continuous, circumferential groove 31 (see Figure 2) formed in the inner surface of the side wall of the receptacle adjacent the upper end of the receptacle.

The leaf spring latches are biased to normally engage at their free ends in the groove 31 to hold the cover assembled with receptacle 10. However, secured to the lower end portions of the latches are outwardly projecting buttons 32 extending through openings of the cover as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Buttons 32 are depressible by auser, and when depressed, cause the leaf spring latches to be shifted inwardly to disengage their lower ends from the receptacle. The cover can thus be readily removed for emptying the receptacle.

If desired, the receptacle can contain a quantity of water into which a cigarette butt B may drop when released. This however, is not absolutely essential, and one may merely permit the butts to drop into the lower end of the receptacle, so that eventually they will become extinguished.

In any event, in use of the device, one would first rock the clamping lever 22 to the Figure 6 position, after which a cigarette is inserted to the Figure 2 position after having been lit. On release of the lever, it will be biased by its spring 26 to its Figure 2 position, so as to clampably engage the cigarette between the indented end of the lever and the wall of neck 16. Neck 16 is open at one side to receive the indented end of the lever, as shown at 36 in Figure 6.

The device is now ready for use, and is to be held in the hand while the cigarette is being smoked, after which it may be placed upon the bedside table. Combustion air, as shown by arrows in Figure 2, enters through the perforations 14. As shown by upwardly directed arrows in the same figure, smoke passes out of the receptacle through the same perforations.

It is not necmsary to empty the container after each cigarette is smoked. The ashes and butts may accumulate therein until a convenient time occurs for emptying them. With a large size container, the device may hold ashm and butts from a complete pack of cigarettes.

The set might also be made in a smaller size for moderate smokers, and is usable to advantage in the home and ofiice, being neat, ornamental, and adapted to com.- pletely eliminate unsightly ash trays and exposed ashes.

The material of the container 10 is capable of heat insulation, or at least, the walls of the receptacle or container will be provided with such insulation. This is important because repeated and frequent use of the device may tend, otherwise, to heat up the walls to the point where the device would be uncomfortable to hold.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted Within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A cigarette receiver comprising: an upright receptacle for cigarette residues, formed open at its upper end and having adjacent said upper end means defining an internal, downwardly facing, circumferentially extending abutment; a cover removably supported on the receptacle at said upper end thereof and having a cigarette holding center opening; a plurality of leaf spring latch members angularly spaced about and secured to the underside of the cover in positions extending radially thereof, said members having free outer end portions formed with tongues inclined upwardly outwardly of the cover and adapted to engage against said abutment to lock the cover to the receptacle; and buttons secured to and projecting upwardly from said members through the cover for depression by a user, said buttons being adapted to shift the members against the spring pressure thereof to positions disengaging the tongues from the abutment to free the cover for removal,

2. A cigarette receiver comprising: a cylindrical, upright receptacle for cigarette residues, formed open at its upper end and having adjacent said upper end a continuous internal groove; a cover removably supported on the receptacle at said upper end thereof and having a cigarette holding center opening; and a plurality of leaf spring latch members angularly spaced about and secured to the underside of the cover in positions extending radially thereof, said members being formed with free outer end portions having tongues inclined upwardly and outwardly ofthe cover and adapted to engage in the groove to lock the cover to the receptacle; and buttons secured to and projecting upwardly from the respective members through the cover for depression by a user, said buttons being adapted to shift the members against the spring pressure thereof to positions disengaging the tongues from the groove to free the cover for removal.

3. A cigarette receiver comprising: a vertical, cylindrical, upright receptacle forcigarette residues, formed With a wholly open end disposed in a horizontal plane, said receptacle having adjacent said upper end a continuous, internal groove also in a horizontal plane; an upwardly converging conical cover removably supported on the receptacle at said upper end thereof and having a cigarette holding center opening; a plurality of leaf spring latch members angularly spaced about and having inner ends secured to the underside of the cover in positions extending radially thereof, said members extending in inclined positions following the inclination of the comically shaped cover, and being formed with free outer end portions having tongues inclined upwardly outwardly of the cover and adapted to engage in the groove to lock the cover to the receptacle, said tongues being movable downwardly and inwardly of the cover out of the groove; and buttons secured to and projecting upwardly from the respective members through the cover for depression by a user, said buttons being adapted to bias the members against the spring pressure thereof about the connections of the members to the cover thereby moving the tongues out of the "groove to free the cover for removal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,780,258 Weinberg Nov. 4, 1930 1,800,173 Anderson Apr. 7, 1931 2,049,228 Sebell July 28, 1936 2,212,440 Irelan Aug. 20, 1940 2,626,613 Glance Jan. 27, 1953 2,659,377 Fisher Nov. 17, 1953 

